How to create a blurred background (bokeh effect) ?
A sharp subject, a blurred background, and suddenly, magic happens. The eye focuses where the photographer wants it to. This play on depth, often associated with portraits or artistic shots, has a name: bokeh.
Often sought after, sometimes misunderstood, the bokeh effect relies on a technical balance. It's not enough to have a good camera. You also need to understand how light, distance and settings work together to create this aesthetically pleasing blurred background.
How do you blur the background of a photo?
Creating a blurred background isn't just a matter of style. It's a way of guiding the eye, highlighting a subject, or adding an artistic touch to an image. To achieve this, you first need to understand what causes this unique effect. Behind the term ‘bokeh’ lie several essential technical concepts. Aperture, focal length, sensor... and a little practice. Here's what you need to know.
What is bokeh?
The word ‘bokeh’ comes from the Japanese word ‘boke,’ which means blur. In photography, it refers to the quality of the background blur in an image. This blur appears when the lens is set so that only the main subject is in focus. Areas outside the focus become softer and more diffuse. This creates a strong visual contrast between what is shown and what is suggested.
But be careful! Not all blurring is created equal. Bokeh is often appreciated for its softness, its round shapes, or even its small bubbles of light. This effect depends on both the settings and the characteristics of the lens used.
What is the bokeh technique?
To achieve good bokeh, you must first isolate a subject. This could be a face, an object, or an architectural detail. The photographer then focuses on this subject, choosing a wide aperture (small f-number). This reduces the depth of field, i.e. the area of sharpness in the image. The smaller it is, the more blurred the background becomes.
This technique also relies on distance. The closer the subject is to the lens and the further away the background is, the more pronounced the bokeh will be. It is this combination of aperture, focus and distance that allows you to achieve a natural effect without digital artifice.
The role of aperture, focal length and distance to the subject
Three elements play an important role in the appearance of background blur:
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The aperture of the lens, often expressed by the letter f/, such as f/1.8 or f/2.8. The smaller the number, the larger the aperture. A large aperture lets in more light and reduces the area of sharpness. This is the ideal condition for a beautiful bokeh effect.
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The focal length, which corresponds to the distance between the optical centre of the lens and the sensor. With a long focal length (e.g. 85 mm or more), the background blur is more pronounced than with a shorter focal length.
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The distance between the camera and the subject. The closer you get to your subject while keeping the background distant, the more pronounced the bokeh will be.
These parameters must be considered together. You can't just open up to f/1.8 without thinking about distance or focal length. Consistency is key.
Let's take a concrete example. You want to photograph a cup of coffee on a table, with a cosy atmosphere in the morning light. Thanks to its bright lens (f/1.8 – 2.6) and built-in autofocus, the Realishot C130 allows you to focus on the edge of the cup while blurring the background. The result is soft, natural, and highlights the texture of the object.
How do you create a bokeh effect?
Understanding the technique is not always enough. You also need to know how to apply the right settings at the right time. Fortunately, achieving a beautiful bokeh effect does not require complex configuration. All it takes is a few well-thought-out adjustments to create this aesthetic and natural background blur. Here are the steps to follow to make real progress in your practice.
How do you achieve the bokeh effect manually?
Some cameras offer an automatic mode that recognises portraits or close-up scenes. This is useful, but often limited. For more control over the bokeh, it is better to switch to manual mode or aperture priority (A or Av mode).
In this mode, you choose the aperture yourself, which allows you to control the depth of field. The camera then adjusts other settings, such as shutter speed, to maintain the correct exposure. This freedom of adjustment gives you a more precise and personalised result, tailored to the scene you are photographing.
Even on compact cameras, some models allow this flexibility. The important thing is to be able to control the aperture and focus.
What aperture is best for bokeh?
The key to successful bokeh is a wide aperture. The wider you open the diaphragm, the more blurred the background becomes. An aperture of f/1.8 to f/2.8 is often ideal. It creates a beautiful depth effect while maintaining good brightness.
Above f/4, the background starts to become sharper again, especially if the subject is not very close. There may still be a slight blur, but the bokeh effect loses its intensity. That's why, for a pronounced blur, it's advisable to stay below f/3.5.
Be careful not to open the aperture too much if you're short on light or if your subject is moving. Too shallow a depth of field can also blur certain areas of the subject, especially in portraits. You will therefore need to test and adjust according to the situation.
How can you blur the background with a bokeh effect?
Creating background blur depends as much on the settings as on the composition. The first thing to do is to get closer to the subject. The shorter the distance between the lens and the subject, the more blurred the background will be.
Next, try to clear the background. A distant, clear and well-lit background makes the bokeh softer. Point lights, such as fairy lights or reflections, also accentuate the beauty of the blur. This can create a very aesthetic effect, especially indoors or in the evening.
Finally, make sure you frame the shot so that the subject stands out. Bokeh is not just an effect; its main purpose is to enhance your subject by isolating it visually.
ISO, shutter speed and aperture for the bokeh effect
To take a well-exposed photo with a beautiful bokeh effect, you need to balance three parameters. ISO, shutter speed and aperture. This is known as the exposure triangle.
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The aperture (f/) affects the background blur. This is the first setting to adjust.
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The shutter speed controls movement. If it is too slow, the image may be blurred.
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ISO adjusts the sensitivity of the sensor. The higher it is, the more light the camera captures, but the more digital noise increases.
Start by choosing a large aperture, then adjust the speed to avoid motion blur. If the light is low, increase the ISO slightly without going too high.
This exercise quickly becomes second nature. Some compact cameras, such as those in the AgfaPhoto range, even allow you to control these settings directly. This helps you progress step by step.
Focusing on the subject (autofocus or manual)
A successful bokeh also depends on the sharpness of the subject. It is therefore important to set the focus correctly. Autofocus works well in most cases, especially on faces or contrasting objects. Some cameras even offer subject tracking, which makes shooting much easier.
But for more complex scenes, or if the subject is poorly lit, manual mode may be more reliable. This allows you to adjust the focus with precision, especially if you are using a tripod or working in macro mode.
The most important thing is to check, before shooting, that the area you want to be in focus is actually in focus. A slight shift in focus can be enough to ruin the desired effect.
Imagine a stroll through the city, camera around your neck, low light at the end of the day. You spot a small object or an urban detail: a flower on a balcony, a bicycle leaning against a colourful wall. The Realishot VLG4K-DIG is made for this type of scene. Its wide-angle lens easily captures the subject while maintaining a natural perspective. By getting closer to the subject, choosing a wide aperture and playing with the distance of the background, you can achieve a nice blur, even in broad daylight.
How do you achieve perfect bokeh?
Mastering the settings is one thing. But without the right equipment, it becomes difficult to produce a smooth, harmonious and well-balanced bokeh. Certain technical features make all the difference, especially if you want to take your photography to the next level. Let's take a look at the elements that allow you to amplify the background blur effect without resorting to filters or retouching.
What focal length should you use for bokeh?
Focal length plays an important role in the intensity of bokeh. The longer the focal length, the more pronounced the blur. For example, a focal length of 85 mm or more effectively separates the subject from the background, especially for portraits.
With a shorter focal length, blurring is still possible, but it will require a larger aperture and a shorter distance between the subject and the background. A focal length between 50 mm and 70 mm remains very versatile for natural and balanced bokeh, whether in street photography, travel photography, or close-ups.
Some compact cameras offer sufficient optical zoom to adjust the focal length without losing quality. This allows you to test different distances and better understand the impact of this setting on blur.
Useful accessories for achieving the perfect bokeh effect
Even with a good camera, certain accessories can improve the quality of the bokeh. A tripod, for example, is essential for stabilising the image, especially when working with a wide aperture or in low light. It also allows you to take the time to compose the image and refine the lines and areas of blur.
A tiltable screen, such as the one on the C110 compact camera from AgfaPhoto, is a real asset. It makes it easier to shoot from low or high angles, two angles that often offer interesting backgrounds to blur. This helps you experiment with new perspectives without constraints.
Finally, remote shutter release, via remote control or smartphone, prevents unwanted movement. This is particularly useful if you are shooting alone, in portrait mode or with still life. This stability enhances the sharpness of the subject and makes the bokeh more uniform.
Ideal conditions for creating a bokeh effect
Bokeh also depends on the setting. To enhance it, certain conditions are more favourable. Soft light, such as that at the end of the day or on a slightly overcast day, allows you to achieve pleasant blurring without too much contrast.
Backlighting is also an excellent way to bring out the halos of light in the background. It accentuates shapes and adds a special atmosphere to the photo. To make the blur lively, it is best to choose a textured background. Foliage, city lights, reflections, blurred objects... These elements interact well with the large aperture and create interesting visual effects.
Let's take the example of a market scene in the city centre. The atmosphere is lively, the colours are vibrant, and passers-by are coming and going. You spot a beautifully lit fruit stall. Thanks to its 5X optical zoom, the Realishot VLG4K-OPT allows you to frame the subject precisely, even from a distance.
By choosing an advanced photo mode and adjusting the focus on a specific element, such as a mango in the foreground, the background becomes soft, almost pictorial. The 48 MP interpolated sensor enhances the sharpness of the targeted area while producing a gradual blur around it. You can still see the shapes in the background, but they become part of the decor. This creates an immersive atmosphere, ideal for travel shots or urban reportage.
Mastering background blur with bokeh
Learning how to create background blur is not just about visual effects. It's a way of structuring an image and giving depth to a scene. It's also a way of emphasising a detail or an emotion. Understanding how bokeh works is obviously the first step towards a more conscious approach to photography.
What you choose to blur says as much as what you decide to show. And this mastery does not depend solely on equipment. Of course, having the right camera, with a large aperture, a smooth zoom or a responsive sensor, can make things easier. But it is observation, experimentation and careful adjustments that gradually refine your eye.